Thursday, December 11, 2008

How about making a calendar for christmas? About.com's Sherri Osborn has templates on her blog, and easy intructions. You could do a recipe calendar (feature different recipes each month, a birthday calendar if you com from a larger family- list everyone's birthday, anniversaries, special events throughout the year, month by month. Another gift idea for kids to give is have them draw a picture and frame it. Frames can be found at thrift stores, dollar stores etc. This makes a great gift for grandma, and it makes the child's artwork look so professional.

Another gift for kids to give is take some burlap, and a frozen orange juice container or similar size can, role the fabric over the can, glue it and glue some ribbon on the top rim and bottom rim of can. Make s a great pencil holder (I think my mom still has hers, 40 years later! Or if you know how to do t-shirt transfers, have your kid draw a I love grandma or grandpa picture, scan it into your computer, make a transfer, and make a shirt. (If you have some talent sewing, you could hem a piece of fabric so that it forms a rectangle and make a wall hanging this way. All easy inexpensive options!

Yesterday we remembered the pooch for christmas, today lets not forget kitty cat! For treats, we can go to this site to make your own cat treats. My cat Sammy swears by the Tuna treats. And here's how to make your own cat toys.One of the best cat toys are to take baby socks or small clean cotton socks like ankle high socks, fill with catnip and tie a knot at the end.Finally, cats love fluffy pom poms on strings (at least my cats always have), here is a video on making pom poms your kitty would love to play with:

Monday, December 1, 2008

Getting ready to make Hot Cocoa Cones or Cocoa in a jar? Need a mix recipe? Here is one from that is simple easy and good And arecipe for sugar free Hot chocolate mix. Add 3 tablespoons of cinnamon for a spicy cinnamon cocoa mix.

I updated the post on how to make apricot "brandy"- I have added a video that might explain better how to make fruit infused vodkas easier. The Video is from the DIY show "Creative Juice" and Creative Juice Co-host Cathie Filian.EDIT- CHILE MAKES A POINT of wishing they didn't encourage the use of a "cheap plastic ball" to tie around the top. Most people that get that will just toss it in the trash. Why not encourage wrapping in a really nice silk hankerchief (available at your local thrift store) and tying off with a pretty ribbon. Or tie a homemade ornament around the top instead of the cheap plastic ball!

Friday, November 28, 2008

If the Hot Chocolate Cone is not the message you want to give, or is too childish, or you don't want to give a thing of cocoa in a plastic bag, why not do the same thing in baby food jar? Don't have any baby food jars?How about a 1/2pint sized jelly jar? The lids on mason jars are even easier to decorate: simply take a piece of cloth, slightly larger that the lid, (no more than 1/8th of an inch) glue it over the the lid and screw the lid on, glue a Hershey's kiss to the top or a small ornament, or follow these instructions for a 3-D effect. Or a neat re-use idea, use the lid of the jar to make a template, and use old Christmas cards. Just trace the outline of the lid on the card, cut the card and glue to the lid, The band should cover any imperfections with the cut. I re-used old Christmas stockings for mine. If the gift is for an aunt or grandparent, you could take a picture of the child and glue that to the lid!

I watch Ms. Oprah every now and then- My mom usually has it on. I saw how to make these hot chocolate cones- a perfect gift for children, co-workers or keep on hand as an emergency gift for unexpected guests who pop in- Easy to make, the hard part is finding the piping bags (I went to Michael's and found them, I would think JoAnn Crafts would have them as well or any gourmet shop)Anyway here are the instructions for making Hot Chocolate Cones And when done you can put them in an inexpensive mug for next to nothing if you want, and fill the mug with hersheys kisses!

Thursday, November 20, 2008

This is a repeat of a post on my regular blog- I think it is important to support your local craftpeople. So browse etsy, or attend a local bazar or craft fair or support your local shops and give a middle finger to big business and Mr. Corporate money bags and buy handmade this year for Christmas. Buying handmade not only is more sustainable,and much kinder to the earth, but it helps your local craftsperson out too. It's the greener way to shop! So send some green to your everyday local artisans and craftspeople and BUY HANDMADE FOR YOUR HOLIDAY GIVING!

Monday, November 3, 2008

This instructional video demonstrates how to make a doggy doo doo composter. Use a septic enzyme to break things down faster. Add leaves and brush to keep it from smelling. You should not use this soil on your vegetable garden, but go ahead and fertilize the flowers and ornamentals with it. It is an eco-friendly way of getting rid of dog waste.

Friday, October 10, 2008

Here is another version of the Rocket Stove this time using a Coffee can and Two soup cans for the fire box. Here is what the inventor, rich991980, of this version has to say about it

"This is a first attempt at building a coffee can rocket stove. There are anumber of things I plan on changing for the second version, like a smaller andslightly taller combustion chamber, to use the full height of the can formaximum draft."

Friday, October 3, 2008

One of the things I am making for christmas is what I call "Booze Bottle Lamps" The lamps I am showing in this picture are going to be filled with sea shells, the other one with marbles.

I start out by drilling a hole in bottle near the bottom so the cord has somewhere to go. I use a 5/16" glass drilling bit. Then I decide if I am going to put the lamp kit in the cap or go with a cork. Either way I drill a 1/8th inch hole in the bottle cap or the cork. Then I push the cord through the hole in the bottle out the neck. Then I take the 1/8" NP thread nipple and shove through the cork or cap and tighten with nuts. Then the cord goes through the nipple and into a lamp kit. If I am using a lamp shade harp I put that on before the lamp kit, and use the cork- more body for everything to hold onto. once I get the cord through either the cork or bottle cap, the I install the lamp kit. Then I pick out a lampshade- I usually go cheap on this , finding them at thrift stores, the Ikea As-Is section or as shown in the photo, I take an old globe, cut it in half, ad some fringe and I have a great lamp shade for a desk or kids room- you just have to remember to use a CFL or other bulb that stays cool. And you get two lamp shades for every globe! You can leave the labels on the bottle or take them off. When the lamp kit is installed you can fill the bottle with small sea shells, craft marbles, buttons, gravel (Great for light plastic bottles to give them some weight) I plan on doing some beer bottles, for some friends who like that fancy shmancy micro beer. I come from an Old Milwaukee/Pabst Blue Ribbon family myself. Local beer was Rainier or Olympia when I was growing up!

Thursday, September 25, 2008

You can use pop bottles, liquor bottles -any glass bottle to make your own oil lamp- Handy to have in a power outage Just follow the instructions on this instructable on how to make an oil lamp from a bottle

I found a video that gives good instruction on building your own rocket stove . A rocket stove heats the air and makes a fast cooking camp stove. Great thing for camping or power outages and such, and cheap too! A great way to re-use some materials that would just go to the land fill!

POST SCRIPT NOTE: I made mine out of a popcorn tin, some old stove pipe a grate and some sand

I built a Rocket Stove out of an old Popcorn Tin, some stove pipe and some other things hanging around the house get a hot fire going using only twigs and some end pieces of cedar shingles from the addition project

The burn box-note the resembulance to the original bat mobile from the tv series? totally unintentional.

The stove out on it's test drive. I decided to see how long it takes to boil 2 cups of water.

Success- the whistle started to blow in about 15 minutes! I see a few improvements to make but I would say it was a success. Next I will try a meal on the rocket stove but first need to find a griddle- wait I have some from the George Foreman! or best to check the thrift shops! Or Could use my cast iron skillet!

I am told you can make a rocket stove out of a large tin, like those shitty popcorn tins everyone seems to think I need at Christmas (like in this case), and instead of stove pipe, you can use tin cans for the chimney and a coffee can for the burn box. Or there is a version made from a coffee can and two tin cans for the burn box. Now I have a use for all those twigs and scrap wood from around the yard and house!

Monday, August 18, 2008

Amazing what you can find on the internet. Here is a self watering container for gardening found at TomatoFest. I have seen similar containers in the stores for $35-$50. It only costs between $18-$25 to make one of these yourself- and here they are giving away the secret for free!How to make an EarthTainer™ planter as seen at TomatoFest.comVideo 1Video 2Video 3And the printed instructionsAll that Gary from TomatoFest and Ray, the EarthTainer™ Inventor ask is that you make a voluntary contribution to the Feed The Children organization http://www.feedthechildren.org/UPDATE: I made an EarthTainer™ out of two five gallon buckets- Those are FREE! I simply followed the same design principle and voila! My first EarthTainer™ I promise I will post a pic in the near future!

Friday, August 15, 2008

Mason Bee houses are easy to make. Mason bees don't sting and don't make honey, but they are prolific pollinators! And native to North America. So give them a home! You can make Mason Bee homes out of old lumber, or a number of discarded materials!

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Make a pop bottle bird feeder, re-using a soda pop bottle!Here is a bottle feeder using any plastic bottleThis other website also instructs on how to make a pine cone feeder- fun for the kiddies! Or do what we did when we were kids - simply stick a stick in a sunflower head and hang!

Sunday, July 27, 2008

Technally, this is fruit infused vodka, but the site calls it Brandy.I am assuming by adding sugar and increasing the sugar content is why they arew calling it "Brandy". You can use any fruit to make it! Even though I am a tea totaller, this looks good. I may make some for gifts this christmas! How to make Apricot Brandy

Looking for a new way to cook chicken might I suggest Beer Butt Chicken? The chickens look funny on the grill, your guests will have fun cracking off color jokes about them. I do this also in the oven.

Saturday, June 21, 2008

You don't need a special appliance like a dehydrator or smoker to make beef Jerky! You can use your own oven! Here is how to make jerky using your oven. I cant vouch for the jerky shooter, but I can vouch for homemade Jerky!

ROB'S JERKY MARINADE2 cups brown sugar1 large bottle of Lea and Perrins - Worcestshire Sauce1 TBSP. Of crushed or minced garlicBlack pepperMix brown sugar, lea and perrins and garlic in a large bowl- place meat in bowl- let sit over nightafter putting the strips of meat for making jerky, sprinkle with black pepper- I found that fresh ground black pepper works best

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

ON my regular blog I posted on of my favorite things- 1/2 pint wide mouth mason jars I pack my lunches in them. They work great. I also reuse jars for milk, ice tea, juices etc. The important thing to remember is to use a lunch box or lunch bag. And refrigerate the lunchbox and/or bag. I have use of a refrigerator at work.

The advantage to the mason jars is 1- They cost less than Gladware or Ziplock containers 2- they are durable 3- They're microwavable 4- they clean up easily

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

To make sun tea, simply fill a jar with water, throw in a couple of teabags or handful of crushed fresh herbs, and set in the sun for 3 or 4 hours. Stir in a little honey to sweeten, pour over ice and enjoy.

There is no truth to the rumor that you need to put the jar in the sun.

Try doing in 16oz mason jars for making your own beverage for work and such, as a refreshing substitute for colas and fizzy drinks!

Thursday, May 22, 2008

I went to the Burien Farmers' Market today- and this gal who called herself "Worm-Mama" was there selling redworms and worm bins and castings- so I got a worm bin!I haven't ventured in vermicomposting yet, and haven't messed with raising worms since i was a kid and we tried to start a worm bin for fishing worms, (no one told me you don't need to water them with a hose and set the bin out in the hot sun to dry them off) but I thought Hey! I already compost- why not take it to the next level? More on my worm bin- "Worm-mama" or rather her kids (she pays them to make the bins and collect worm castings from her big bins)- the worm bins are constructed from recycled plastic and have a tea tray and all the good stuff. She has easy instructions on keeping worms, where to put your bin etc. etc. I do so admire folks who take an idea, run with it and make a living at it! More posts on the bin later. You can contact her at sharon@worm-mama.com. Here is how to VERMICOMPOST

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Another method for making your own Ice Cream- The coffee can method! Put your ice cream mixture in a 1-pound coffee can, seal well with top and tape, and place it in the center of a 3-pound coffee can. Layer ice and rock salt in the space between the cans. Seal the large can, place it on its side on the ground or floor, then roll back and forth with your feet for about 10 to 15 minutes. Take the small can out, wipe the rock salt and water off, then stir. Reseal the can and repeat the rock salt, ice, and rolling.

Friday, May 16, 2008

Really cool link this. Square foot gardening. Learn how to build a raised bed box, learn how to mix the perfect soil; Seeding and harvesting. One of the best ways to go green is grow your own- food that is!

Thursday, May 15, 2008

My dad built me a tree house at our lake property when I was a kid-- actually a platform that I pitched my pup tent on on the stumps of some trees that were still pretty tall. So share the fun with your kids and build them that tree house!

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Someone needs to build a cat tree for kitty so kitty doesn't get bored and has a place to go away from those stupid dogs. Here is a great DIY on building a cat treeHere are some tips from dollar stretcher.com, I like the ladder idea, makes for re-using a ladder with jute rope between the legs, and of course we wouldn't be proper without an instruction from Martha Stewart on how to build a condo from a tree branch.

Monday, May 12, 2008

One of those mysteries to me anyhow, was always how to tie a necktie. Considering I used to be the King of Macrame, it has always surprised me. MY dad loved clip on's when dressing up so he never showed me how. And as far as having 14 uncles none of them did either. So I went through the eighties wering those skinny little ties with somehow devising a half-assed knot. Enter the information age and I finally have a how to on tieing ties!

Here is a list of recycling crafts, And a great DIY page one making your own solar powered generator! Then make an inexpensive Air Conditioner for your generator to power. And my own DIY on how to make your own no plastic added commuter mug. Thebn when your done being creative look up Earth 911 to recycle yuour leftovers projects!